Roberta and Steve Coelho co-ordinate Andover's Parkinson UK social group
AN ANDOVER woman who has already raised more than £17,000 for Parkinson’s UK has now written her first children’s book as another fundraiser for research in to the disease.
Roberta Coelho, also known as Bobby, decided to try her hand at being a children’s author.
The result is a book called Little Roger’s Big Adventures, with all the proceeds going towards Oxford University’s Parkinson’s Disease Centre.
At the site, researchers are trying to find a system of diagnosing early stages of the illness.
Mrs Coelho, 65, was herself diagnosed with Parkinson’s nearly 20 years ago.
Her fundraising began around 2003, in which time she has co-raised thousands of pounds for the cause.
Her 13-page children’s book tells the tale of Little Roger the dinosaur, who is fed up of lighting barbecues.
Mrs Coelho said: “This is something I wanted to try to see if I could be any good at, and every penny will go to Parkinson’s research.
“We want to raise as much as possible, hopefully more than £500. It is a brilliant charity and Parkinson’s is a very progressive disease with no cure, and it can make you feel out of it and feel quite lonely at times.
“I just want people to understand that not all diseases are visible.”
Currently Parkinson’s is most regularly diagnosed at the stage the patient loses 80% of their responses for movement and speech.
Copies of the £5.99 book can be bought at Clatford Village Shop, The Royal Oak pub and through Mrs Coelho directly.
Mrs Coelho and her husband Steve also co-ordinates Andover’s monthly Parkinson’s UK social group, which meets every fourth Friday of the month for those with Parkinson’s and their partners to come along.
To buy a copy of Little Roger’s Big Adventures or find out more about the Andover Parkinson’s social group contact Roberta Coelho on coelho1@ntlworld.com.
For more information about the research centre, go to opdc.ox.ac.uk/home
http://www.andoveradvertiser.co.uk/news/15543469.Andover_woman_writes_a_book_to_fundraise_for_Parkinson_s_research/
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